Railway car structure



. Sept. 15, 1936. G. G. GILPIN I RAILWAY CAR STRUCTURE Filed June 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 llIII!llllllIllllllillldllllllll Sept 15, 1936.

G. G. GHTPIN RAILWAY CAR STRUCTURE Filed June 8, asheets-snet 2 Sept. 15, 1936.

G. G. GILPIN x RAILWAY CAR4 STRUCTURE Filed June 8, 1935 l 5 sheets-Sheet 3 fwenfor. Gad/7 Gf G77 /27 l #for/729;.

Patented Sept. l5, 1936 PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY can STRUCTURE Garth G. Gilpin, Riverside, Ill., assignor to Union Metal Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a oorporation oi' Delaware :Application June 8, 1935, Serial No. 25,630

10 Claims.

The invention relates to railway freight cars and more particularly to side and end walls for open 'top railway cars, such as hopper and gonydola cars, though the construction is adaptable for walls of house cars, such as box, automobile and refrigerator cars. lThe construction is also adaptable for use as roofs, floors, hopper doors and side doors for railway cars. A roof or a iioor comes within the meaning of the term "wall as used in the specification 'and claims herein.

Railway freight cars are generally designed so that the side walls are girders orvtrusses to carry part of the weight of the lading and' the car load to the trucks. `Such side walls also retain the load in the car. It is desirable to make the inside horizontal width of the car as wide as possible to increase the cubical capacity of the car but the outside width'of the car is limited by tunnels and projections adjacent the track so it becomes imperative to make the side wall as thick horizontally as possible .consistent with strength requirements. l

Open top railway cars-are frequently built with the vertical walls comprising spaced apart upper and lower frame members connected atxr spaced intervals by vertical posts with panels filling the spaces between the posts and frame members, which construction forms a girder and retaining wall.A It has been proposed to bulge the central parts of these panels outwardly to increase the cubical capacity of the car, such as shown in the Hart Patent No. 1,623,591 of April 5, 1927.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a wall for a, railway car wherein the vmajor portion of the wall sheet (or sheets) is adjacent the exterior plane of the vertical stakes or'posts of the wall and to form that part ofthe 'stakes or posts within the lading compartment of the car so that they reduce the carrying capacity oi' the car the minimum amount, and to asso- .ciate the wall sheets with such posts so that the wall sheets prevent lateral deflection of the posts when under load.

Another object is to form at least part si each wall sheet with corrugations, or other sinuous congurations, and to associate the'vertlcal edges of such corrugated part of the sheet'with the posts to prevent torque or twisting of such posts when under load.

. Another object is to form that part of each post within the lading compartment of the car with integral deformations, which resist the tenitself to the body tolsters which transmitA such (Cl. 10S-409) dency of the post to deflect laterally under load and yet do not interfere with the discharge of the load. 4

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows the outside of a part of a .wall s of a railway car incorporating the invention.

Fig. 2 shows the inside view of Fig. 1.

Fig- 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a. detail of one wall sheet.

Fig. 5 shows the outside of a part of a railway 10 car incorporating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 6 shows the inside view lof Fig. 5.

Fig. '1 is a section on line '|-1 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a detail of a wall sheet.

Fig. 9 shows an inside view of a part of a wall ll5 ,of a railway car incorporating anothermodiiication of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a section on line Ill--Ill of Fig. 9.

In the form of my invention illustrated I have merely shown spaced apart upper chord 2 and 20 lower chord 4 and one of the'posts with parts of the adjacent wall sheet showing-how these elements are associated and arranged to obtain the objects ofthe invention.

Eachstakeor post 6 comprises a single web 25 'l extending transversely of the car Awithin the lading compartment of thecar and each wall sheet 8 comprises a major portion 9 in a plane adjacent to (and preferably within) the exterior plane of the stakes orl posts and an upper part l0 (and sometimes also a lower part Il) sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior plane of the stakes or posts. Such major portion 9 is formed with a plurality of corrugations I2 (or other contiguous configuration or perhaps just a. sin- .35 gle corrugation i3) which extend to the opposite vertical edges ofthe wall sheet and to adjacent the posts where they rest upon the beads (I5-I 6) which provides a backing for the wall sheet while welding material (l1-I8) is being ap- 40 plied. The welded material holds the lwall sheets to the posts. The beads preferably conform to lthe contour of the wall sheet and corrugation or corrugations.

The corrugations I'2--I3 stiften the plate as a 45 retaining wall between the posts 6 and furthermore such an arrangement prevents the post from twisting under load, as is shown particularly in Figs. 3 and '7. The corrugations are preferably formed with sloping upper walls 20 504 and sloping lower walls 2| or surfaces so as not to interfere with the discharge of the lading when moving through the lower hoppers or when discharging through the top of the car in an unloading machine. Furthermore such sloping 55 walls will not retain any dust or small particles of the lading which would cause corrosion.

When a single corrugation is used itis preferably positioned adjacent the line of maximum stress upon the structure as a retaining wall. The side wall of a hopper or gondola car is a retaining wall and whena plastic load is being transported the horizontal line of maximum stress is about one-third up from the bottom of the retaining wall.

Fig.v 9 shows a modification wherein a single corrugation 30 is used and which projects outwardly from the interior of the ca r and preferably has its crest vflush with the outer yedge (or-exterior plane) of the posts. In such an arrangement the-outer edges of the posts and also the crest of the corrugation protect the wall sheet.

The part of the post within the lading compartment of the car is provided with corrugations,

embossments or other integral deformations 35 to prevent it from deflectin'g laterally under load. See Figs. 9 and 10. The deformations shown comprise a plurality of oppositely projecting flat portions 36-31 which merge into the post to leave a straight marginal part 38. When a post is acting as a strut (between the chords of the girder) or acting as a vertically positioned horizontally loaded beam the tendency is for the compression side (the inner edge) of the post to deflect laterally.

Figs. to 8 inclusive show a modification wherein the major portion of the wall sheet is provided with a plurality of corrugations I2 andthe post 40 is provided with upper flanges 4I for attachment to the upper chord 2 and lower flanges` I42--43 for attachment to the lower chord 4.

In assembling the wall,- the posts are secured to the upper and lower chords, either by welding, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2or by riveting, as shown in Figs; 5 and 6. The wall sheets are then secured to the posts by welding. In Figs. l, 2 and 3 the wall sheets are applied from the outside of the car, but in-Flgs. 5, 6 and 7 the wall sheets are applied from the inside of the car. The wall sheets are then secured to the chords, preferably by welding.

j When the wall sheets are formed'with the major portions thereof in one plane and the upper rately and collectively, .prevent the stakes from defiecting lengthwise of the wall either when acting as a beam or as a column. Another object of the invention is to associate and arrange the stakes and wall sheets so that the wall sheets reinforce the stakes against buckling thereby permitting the use, of very light stakes and eliminating the necessity of any other lateral bracing for the posts, such as the usual flanges.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred form of the invention, though it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that various modifications thereof, within the scope of the claims, will occur to persons skilled in the art.

`I claim:

1. A-wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord, a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting said chords, each of said stakes comprising a single web extending transversely ofthe car, a wall sheet extending between and secured to said chords, said wall sheet having the major portion thereof in a plane adjacent to the ex' terior plane of the stakes and having the upper part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior plane of the stakes and welded material se- -per part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior plane of .the stakes, said major portion formed into a plurality .of corrugations extending between the vertical edges of the sheet and welded material securing the ends of said corrugations and said upper part to the adjacent stake.

3. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord, a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting said chords, each of said stakes comprising a single web extending transversely of the car, a wall sheet extending between and secured to said chords. saidy wall sheet having the major portion thereof in a plane adjacent to the exterior plane of the stakes and having the upper part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior plane of the stakes and welded material securing the vertical edges of said major portion and said upper part to the adjacent stake, the portion of the stake within the car body being provided with horizontal stiffeners for the purpose specified.

4. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord, a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting said chords, each of said stakes comprising'a single web extending transversely ofthe car, a wall sheet extending between and secured to said chords, said wall sheet having the major portion thereof in a plane adjacent to the exterior plane of the stakes and having the upper part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior plane of the stakes, said major portion formed into a plurality of corrugations extending between the vertical edges of the sheet and welded material securing the ends of said corrugations and said-upper partfto the adjacent stake, the portion of the stake within the car body being provided with horizontal stiifeners for the purpose specled.

5. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord,.a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting said chords, each of said stakes comprising a single web extending transversely of the car. a wall sheet extending between and secured to said chords, said wall sheet having the major portion thereof in a plane adjacent to the exterior, plane of the stakes and having the upper part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior plane ofthe stakes, each stake being provided with a bead conforming to the contour of the wall sheet, the vertical margins of said major portion and said sloping part resting against said beads and welded material securing the `vertical edges of said major portion and said upper part to the adjacent stake whereby the bead backs up the wall sheet during the welding process.

6. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord, a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting said chords. each of said stakes comcar. a wall prising a single web extending transversely of the car, a wall sheet extending between and se' cured to said chords, said wall sheet having the Amajor portion thereof in a plane adjacent to the exterior piane of the stakes andhaving the upper part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior plane of the stakes, said major portion formed into a corrugation extending between the verticaledges of the sheet, and means to secure the ends of said corrugation, said major portion and said upper part to the adjacent stake, said corrugation comprising sloping upper and lower walls so as not to interfere with the dischare of the lading.

- '7. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord,l a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting -said chords, each of said stakescomprising a. single web extending transversely of the car, a wall sheet extending between and secured to said chords, said wail sheet having the major portion thereof in a'plane adjacent to the exterior piane of the stakes and having the upper part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent `the interior plane of the stakes, said major portion formed into a corrugation extending between the vertical edges of the sheet, and means to secure the ends of said corrugation, said major portion and said upper part to the adjacent stake, said corrugation positioned adjacent the line of maxi- 4mum stress upon the stakes as horizontally loaded beams.

8. 'A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord. a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting said chords, each of'said stakes comprising a single web extending transversely of the sheet extending between and secured to'said chords, said wall sheet having the major portion thereof in a plane adjacent to the exterior plane of the stakes and having the upper part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior plane of the stakes, saidmajor portion formed into a corrugation extending between the vertical edges of thesheet. and means to secure the ends of said corrugation, said major portion and said upper part to the adjacent stake.

9. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord, a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting said chords. each of said stakes comprising a single web extending transversely of the car, a wall sheet extending between and secured to said chords, said wall sheet having the major portion thereof in a plane adjacent' to but within theexterior plane of the stakes and having the upper part thereof sloping inwardly to adjacent the interior piane of the stakes,` said major portion formed into a corrugation extending between the vertical edges of the sheet and projecting outwardly substantially flush with the outside of the stake, and means to secure the ends of said corrugation, said major portion and said upper part to the adjacent stake.

l0. A wall for a railway car comprising an upper chord, a lower chord, spaced apart stakes connecting said chords, each of said stakes comkmerging into said stakes to leave straight marginal4 parts.

GARTH G. GILPIN.` 

